India’s Biggest Landowner After The Government: Catholic Church Owns 17 Crore Acres!Curated By :Translation Desk Last Updated:
After the Indian government, a centuries-old establishment is the country’s second-largest landowner, holding 17 crore acres of land across India. The question is: who owns it all?
Throughout history, land has been a symbol of social status and authority. Many historic conflicts were driven by the ambition to acquire more land. Land plays a vital role in human development, providing space for agriculture, housing, education, industry, and religious practice.
In a vast and populous nation like India, which spans approximately 3,287,590 square kilometres, the significance of land is even more pronounced.
Land Ownership In India: The State And The Church
In India, the government remains the primary landowner. However, the Catholic Church of India ranks as the second-largest landholder in the country. According to the Government Land Information System (GLIS), as of February 2021, the Indian government possessed roughly 15,531 square kilometres of land. This land is distributed among 116 public sector undertakings and 51 central ministries.
In contrast, the Catholic Church of India owns an estimated 7 crore hectares (17.29 crore acres) of land nationwide. These properties include churches, educational institutions, and other establishments. The total value of this land is believed to exceed Rs 1 lakh crore.
A Comparison With Global Land Areas
The land held by the Indian government surpasses the total land area of numerous countries. For instance, it owns more land than Qatar (11,586 sq. km), the Bahamas (13,943 sq. km), Jamaica (10,991 sq. km), Lebanon (10,452 sq. km), Gambia (11,295 sq. km), Cyprus (9,251 sq. km), Brunei (5,765 sq. km), Bahrain (778 sq. km), and Singapore (726 sq. km).
Ministries With The Largest Land Holdings
Among the various ministries, the Ministry of Railways holds the most land, with approximately 2,926.6 square kilometres. This is followed by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Coal, both of which hold around 2,580.92 square kilometres.
Other key ministries with substantial land assets include the Ministry of Power (1,806.69 sq. km), Ministry of Heavy Industries (1,209.49 sq. km), and Ministry of Shipping (1,146 sq. km).
Historical Acquisition Of Church Land
Much of the Catholic Church’s land was acquired during the British colonial era, primarily under the provisions of the Indian Church Act of 1927. The Church’s holdings span from Goa in the west to the northeastern states. However, there have been longstanding disputes regarding the legitimacy of these acquisitions, with allegations that the Church forcefully occupied some properties.
The British administration often leased land to Christian institutions at nominal rates to aid the spread of Christianity. In 1965, the Indian government issued a circular declaring that any land leased by the British would no longer be recognised. Despite this, the directive was never fully enforced, leaving many disputes unresolved.
Role Of The Catholic Bishops’ Conference Of India (CBCI)
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) is responsible for overseeing all Church properties across the country. As of 2012, the Catholic Church of India operated an extensive network of institutions, including 2,457 hospitals and dispensaries, 240 medical and nursing colleges, 28 general colleges, 5 engineering colleges, 3,765 secondary schools, 7,319 primary schools, and 3,187 nursery schools.
Following the Catholic Church, the Waqf Board is the third-largest landowning body in India. Formed under the Waqf Act of 1954, the Board manages thousands of mosques, madrasas, and graveyards. It holds over 600,000 immovable properties, most of which were granted during the period of Muslim rule in India.
It is important to note that many of these landholding figures are estimates. Neither the Catholic Church nor the Indian government has released comprehensive official data regarding these holdings. https://www.news18.com/india/indias-biggest-landowner-after-the-government-who-owns-17-crore-acres-ws-dkl-9537376.html
Church run Schools& other institutions are from God believers Tax Money and to loot India for Conversions Purposes
Chruch Fraud reply
Catholic Church in India's land ownership and the acceptance it receives clearly indicates how a section of our society has become a thoughtless group of people who do not hesitate to accept even the biggest lies and childish arguments. According to them, the Catholic Church owns 17.29 crore acres of land in India — that is, seven lakh square kilometres. The total area of agricultural and residential land in India is 51 crore acres, of which 17.29 crore acres, according to their propaganda, belong to Catholics, who constitute less than 1.6% of the population.
The basis of this false accusation is a fake news report published by a news agency and a few national online portals a few months ago. It is strange that the value they assign to these 17.29 crore acres of land, along with all the constructions and investments on it, is just Rs. 20,000 crore. That means the value of one acre of land and its contents is estimated at only Rs. 1,157! Not only that, the report also claims that the central government, which owns the largest amount of land, possesses only 15,531 square kilometres or 38,37,793 acres. Although the same report claims to be based on data from the central government's land information website, no such document is available anywhere. It is clear that some people have attempted to put the Church on the defensive by making allegations based on such fake news, without giving it a serious verification. How does the Church use its land? There are more than 40000 schools, over 400 colleges, and 6 universities across India belonging to various Catholic dioceses and monastic communities. In the healthcare sector, the Catholic Church operates 240 medical, nursing, and paramedical educational institutions, including five medical colleges, alongside an extensive network of hospitals and numerous small clinics across India, which can accommodate approximately 85,000 patients. Around five lakh patients, the elderly, the disabled, and orphans are cared for in thousands of institutions. A large part of the schools and hospitals serve the general public and the poor. Only 1.55 percent of the population, or about two crore Catholics, live in India.
Yet, the various institutions of the Catholic Church directly or indirectly serve more people than the total population of Catholics every day. Under all the systems of the Church, wealth and labour are largely allocated for the benefit of the entire population of this country, regardless of religion, caste, or region. The fact is, wherever land is registered in the name of Church institutions, corresponding institutions and services are available to serve the people of that area. If a lie is repeated a thousand times, the number of people who believe it may increase — but the lie will always remain a lie.
The malicious accusations made in this way, and the cyberattacks carried out under their cover, may lead a few unthinking people into darkness. However, they will not lead anyone to permanent victory. Whoever leads the procession of such lies with evil intentions, the Catholic Church will continue its mission here.
No comments:
Post a Comment